Program Overview

Master of Public Health MPH

Overview

The Master of Public Health (MPH) course at the University of Chester is a comprehensive programme designed to equip you with the essential skills and knowledge you need to excel in the evolving field of public health, and to engage in the collaborative partnerships required to address determinants of health that transcend national boundaries. The course combines theoretical foundations with practical applications, covering key areas such as epidemiology, health policy, leadership, economics of health, and communicable disease control. It is aligned with both the UK Public Health Skills and Career Framework and the UK Public Health Skills and Knowledge Framework, ensuring that you will gain industry-relevant competencies.

Why You’ll Love It

• MPH Qualification: The MPH Qualification is an internationally recognised brand of quality, for the course and its graduates.
• Career Opportunities: Unlock diverse career paths with a Master of Public Health degree at Chester. Our graduates have gone on to tackle real-world public health challenges on the national and international stage, making a global impact in health outcomes.
• Flexible Learning and Support: Our course is tailored for students balancing studying with work or personal commitments, offering both full-time and part-time options. We provide exceptional support for diverse needs, whether you're studying in a new country or returning to education. Embrace a dynamic learning environment that adapts to you!

What You'll Study

• Year 1: The course is modular; six of your modules are worth 20 credits at Level 7, with your final research module worth 60 credits. You will have 200 hours of learning per module, which includes approximately 30 hours of direct contact. Your final module is 556 hours of learning, which includes 35 hours of direct contact. The areas of study will include contemporary public health issues and evidence-based public health, including concepts, principles and methods of evaluation.

Modules

• Epidemiology and Statistics for Public Health (20 Credits): Epidemiology is the study of the distribution and determinants of health and disease in human populations. This module introduces the fundamentals of epidemiology and equips students with the essential skills needed to analyse and interpret data from epidemiological studies.
• Research in Public Health Practice (20 Credits): This module is benchmarked against the Assessing the evidence of effectiveness of interventions, programmes and services to improve population health and wellbeing, Public health intelligence and Academic Public Health areas in the Public Health Skills and Career Framework.
• Theories and Principles of Public Health (20 Credits): This module is benchmarked against the Health improvement, Health protection, Health and social care quality areas in the Public Health Skills and Career Framework.
• Communicable Disease in Public Health (20 Credits): This module is benchmarked against the Health improvement, Health protection, Health and social care quality and Core areas in the Public Health Skills and Career Framework.
• Leadership and Health Policy Development (20 Credits): This module is benchmarked against the Health improvement, Health protection, Public Health Intelligence, Health and social care quality and Cores areas 2 & 3 in the Public Health Skills and Career Framework.
• The Economics of Health (20 Credits): This module is benchmarked against the Health improvement, Health protection, Public Health Intelligence, Health and social care quality and Cores areas 2 & 3 in the Public Health Skills and Career Framework.
• Research Dissertation (60 Credits): This module consolidates the learning and knowledge acquisition provided on the course. It encompasses all Function Areas in the Public Health Skills and Knowledge Framework.

Entry Requirements

• Home Students: Normally, applicants should have an appropriate university degree or equivalent qualification. Alternatively, students with relevant experience may be able to apply through the Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) route.
• International/EU Students: Normally, applicants should have an appropriate university degree or equivalent qualification. Alternatively, students with relevant experience may be able to apply through the Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) route. Overseas applicants whose first language is not English will need to have a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 overall with no less than 5.5 in each band or equivalent English language qualifications.

Fees and Funding

• Home Students: £8,775 per year (2025/26)
• International Students: £15,000 per year (2025/26)
• Additional Costs: Your course will involve additional costs not covered by your tuition fees. This may include books, printing, photocopying, educational stationery and related materials, specialist clothing, travel to placements, optional field trips and software.
• Bursaries: The University of Chester supports fair access for students who may need additional support through a range of bursaries and scholarships.

Where You'll Study

• Wheeler, Chester: Located within the lively city centre of Chester and overlooking the River Dee, Wheeler is home to most courses within Nursing and Midwifery, Health and Social Care, and Law.
• Health and Social Care simulation suite: Our simulation suite emulates diverse healthcare spaces, ranging from a patient’s home and community clinic settings to acute care settings, including a Triage Assessment Area, Maternity Delivery Suite, Children’s Ward, and a General Ward.
• On-site library: Our on-site library has a variety of study spaces and IT facilities, in addition to book collections for Health and Medicine, Law and Policing.
• Social spaces: Wheeler’s café and coffee shop serves hot and cold drinks, snacks, and delicious meals. Meanwhile, the student common room provides a social, group work, and discussion space for students.

Your Future Career

• Careers Service: The University has an award-winning Careers and Employability service which provides a variety of employability-enhancing experiences; through the curriculum, through employer contact, tailored group sessions, individual information, advice and guidance.
• Employability: Careers and Employability aims to deliver a service which is inclusive, impartial, welcoming, informed and tailored to your personal goals and aspirations, to enable you to develop as an individual and contribute to the business and community in which you will live and work.